Kim Soo-mi's Family Shares Heartfelt Messages from Kim Hye-ja

The family of the late actress Kim Soo-mi, who passed away in November 2024, has revealed touching messages received from fellow actress Kim Hye-ja. The two stars shared a deep friendship that spanned over 53 years since their debuts.

On March 25, Kim Soo-mi's son, Jung Myung-ho, and daughter-in-law, actress Seo Hyo-rim, appeared on the TV Chosun variety show 'Dad and Me' to discuss their memories of Kim Soo-mi and the love from her colleagues. Seo Hyo-rim, who affectionately referred to Kim Soo-mi as 'Mom,' expressed her longing for her late mother-in-law's friends, saying, "I miss the teachers around Mom so much. I couldn't help but cry when I saw them at the awards ceremony. It’s just that Mom isn’t here anymore."

Seo Hyo-rim shared a poignant moment when she received a text from Kim Hye-ja on Kim Soo-mi's phone. "Kim Hye-ja sent a message asking, 'Soo-mi, where are you? Please respond.' I was overwhelmed with tears," she recounted. She replied, "I arrived in heaven safely," to which Kim Hye-ja responded, "I’m glad to hear you’re in heaven, Soo-mi. Now you can rest comfortably."

Seo Hyo-rim noted that Kim Hye-ja likely understood they were the ones sending the messages, but she still wanted to communicate in this way. "I cried a lot during that time. I went through Mom's phone and listened to her call recordings, and I still receive many messages from friends," she added.

The messages exchanged between Kim Hye-ja and Seo Hyo-rim revealed the depth of their bond. Just two days after Kim Soo-mi's passing on October 25, 2024, Kim Hye-ja texted, "Soo-mi, where are you? I miss you. Please talk to me." Seo Hyo-rim replied, "I’ve arrived in heaven and I’m at peace now. Please don’t be too sad. We will meet again and smile in the distant future, sister." Kim Hye-ja responded, "I’m so happy to hear you’re in heaven. Goodbye, Soo-mi. Let’s meet again someday."

The strong friendship between Kim Soo-mi and Kim Hye-ja has been well-documented over the years. Kim Soo-mi once tearfully recounted how Kim Hye-ja helped her during a difficult financial period, offering her support when she was struggling. "I had no money, and rumors spread that I was borrowing money. When Hye-ja heard that, she said, 'Don’t borrow little by little; take this and use it all,' handing me her bankbook. She told me, 'I was going to go to Africa anyway, so just keep it. You don’t have to pay me back.' After my situation improved, I filmed five movies in a year and repaid her first. Whenever I called, she would listen for three or four hours, even all night. I love her and am grateful," Kim Soo-mi shared.

Kim Soo-mi was found in a state of cardiac arrest at her home in Bangbae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the morning of October 25, 2024, and was later pronounced dead at the hospital. According to her family, the cause of death was attributed to hyperglycemic shock. Earlier that year, she had been hospitalized due to exhaustion, temporarily halting her activities.